Third Thursdays: Dr. John Biggers Talk and Akina Adderley Performance
Programs
September 21, 2023 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Enjoy after-hours exhibition access, an enlightening artist talk, and a soulful jazz performance.
Event Details
Join us after work every Third Thursday for special extended Museum hours from 5 to 7 p.m.! Explore the exhibitions, enjoy happy hour food and drinks in The Star Cafe, and connect to Texas through unique interactive experiences. Different activities are offered each month. Museum garage parking is free after 5 p.m.
The Legacy of Dr. John Biggers Talk by Dr. Alvia Wardlaw
From 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. join scholar, curator, and Director of the University Museum at Texas Southern University Dr. Alvia J. Wardlaw for a fascinating talk about Dr. John Biggers. Dr. Biggers was an African American muralist, educator, and longtime Houston resident who found his voice by depicting the African American experience. In 1949 he became the founding chairman of the art department at what is now known as Texas Southern University and left an indelible mark on the next generation of artists. Come learn all about this important artist and his lasting legacy on the Texas art scene.
Akina Adderley Jazz Performance
From 6:30 to 8 p.m. get ready for an electric night of music at the Bullock Museum! Experience the incredible vocal stylings of Akina Adderley, a rock/soul vocalist, songwriter, bandleader, arranger and producer, and Austinite. Her music reflects both her rock ‘n roll sensibility and her deep jazz roots.
The programs at this Third Thursday are paired with The Harmon and Harriet Kelley Collection of African American Art: Works on Paper. We invite you to peruse the gallery and discover and connect Dr. Bigger’s story and the rich sounds and rhythms of Adderley's performance to the exhibit works and themes.
Museum exhibition galleries will be open for exploration between 5 and 7 pm. Both the talk and the musical performance are included in the price of exhibition admission. Onsite exhibition admission ticket sales end at 6:50 p.m.
This program is eligible for CPE credit, email Education@TheStoryofTexas.com.
Public programs at the Bullock Museum explore relevant history and celebrate the culture that has shaped our modern world. Through engaging discussions, live performances, and experiential activities visitors are invited to see local connections and discover how Texas fits into a broader national story.
Alvia J. Wardlaw is an American art scholar and one of the country's top experts on African-American art. She is the Curator and Director of the University Museum at Texas Southern University, an institution central to the development of art by African Americans in Houston. She also is a professor of Art History at Texas Southern University. Wardlaw is a member of the Scholarly Advisory Council of the National Museum of African American History and Culture and co-founded the National Alliance of African and African American Art Support groups in 1998. Wardlaw was University of Texas at Austin's first African-American Ph.D. in Art History.
Akina Adderley is a rock and soul vocalist, songwriter, bandleader, arranger, and producer. She has produced two albums and toured extensively with her 8-piece soul band, Akina Adderley & The Vintage Playboys, and released an EP and two full-length records with nu-jazz group Nori. A local Austin favorite, Akina is a Black Fret artist, a songwriter with The House of Songs, and was honored in 2012 by the mayoral proclamation of Akina Adderley Day in Austin. Akina is also a proud educator (another passion woven into her DNA); she’s the Music Director at Griffin School, was a long-time instructor and band coach at Girls Rock Camp, conducts musicals for the Adderley Repertory Theatre Ensemble, and teaches private voice lessons.
Your Support Matters
Help us continue to share the story of Texas with a tax-deductible donation.
Enjoy discounts, exclusive programs, and free access to exhibitions year-round by becoming a member of the Bullock Museum.
The exhibition The Harmon and Harriet Kelley Collection of African American Art: Works on Paper was organized by Landau Traveling Exhibitions, Los Angeles, CA.
Sponsored by the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Hall Fund.
The Bullock Museum, a division of the Texas State Preservation Board, is funded by Museum members, donors, and patrons, the Texas State History Museum Foundation, and the State of Texas.
